Wrestling: Joey Melendez leads 12 Montini wrestlers headed for state

HINSDALE – Montini senior Joey Melendez wrestled Saturday with his left ankle heavily taped, the result of a sprain suffered two weeks ago.

[David Toney - For Shaw Media]

But it didn’t prevent the North Carolina recruit from jumping up and down in joy at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional.

Melendez (38-2) pulled off a dramatic 4-3 victory over Stagg’s Domenic Zaccone in the 120-pound championship match. The previously unbeaten Zaccone (30-1) held a 3-1 lead before Melendez scored a takedown with one second remaining.

“He took me down, tried to ride me and I got out and saw there was like 16 seconds left,” Melendez said. “I was just trying stuff, going forward on instincts. I just tried to make something happen and it ended up happening.”

[David Toney - For Shaw Media]

That’s been the story of Melendez’s sterling career. After getting beat out by Real Woods for the 106 starting spot as a freshman, Melendez cracked the lineup as a sophomore. He now has a chance to become just the third wrestler in program history to win state championships at three different weight classes.

Melendez won his first state title at 106 two years ago and captured the 113 title last year, beating Zaccone in the final.

Saturday’s victory provided a glimpse at Melendez’s competitiveness. Both wrestlers, who are ranked 1-2 in the state, were already assured of advancing to state, but they put on a show worthy of a state final.

[David Toney - For Shaw Media]

“Every match is important,” Melendez said. “I take every match like it’s my last match.

“I don’t want to say I’m a cocky guy, but I never expect to lose. I train so hard and I’ve got pride. You’ve got to go out there and be stingy and fight for everything.”

The Broncos did just that, winning eight titles and qualifying 12 wrestlers for state.

Dylan Burnoski (41-7 at 126) and Fidel Mayora (32-7 at 138) turned in runner-up performances, while Nain Vazquez (40-6 at 106) and Jake Stiles (46-4 at 145) took third.

[David Toney - For Shaw Media]

“We wrestle what I would say is one of the toughest schedules in the country and it prepares us for times like this,” Melendez said. “Deep down you got to lay it on the line.”

While the senior class led by Melendez, Michigan recruit Will Lewan and the Stanford-bound Woods, who won Class 2A state titles at 106 in 2015 and 126 in 2017 and was second in 3A at 113 in 126, lead the way, others are getting in on the act.

Christensen, a junior, upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Downers South senior Sergio Villalobos 3-1 in the 195 title bout. Christensen had never beaten Villalobos (40-1), who defeated him 12-7 at last week’s regional.

[David Toney - For Shaw Media]

“I just took what I got from last week, how I lost, worked on some things this week in practice and just was able to accomplish it during the match today,” said Christensen, who is ranked second in the state by Illinois Matmen. “I knew he was going to be able to get to my legs so if I’m able to defend and make sure he’s not able to get to my ankle, I should be fine and it worked out pretty well.”

This is Christensen’s second trip to state. He was 1-2 last season but figures to contend for a spot on the podium.

“It gives me a lot of confidence taking down the No. 1 guy,” Christensen said. “He’sNo. 1 for a reason.”

Speaking of which, Melendez has been rolling ever since his rookie year battles with Woods.

“I came in freshman year at 95 [pounds] and I didn’t start because I had Real Woods in front of me,” Melendez said. “I worked my butt off every day.

“He pushed me and I got some beatings, but I’m a two-time state champ because of it.”

In other results, Hinsdale Central’s Liam Drury qualified by taking second at 145 and Luke Skokna advanced with a fourth-place showing at 160. The other area qualifiers were Downers North’s Jim Flavin (fourth at 220) and Wheaton Warrenville South’s Jon Cooper (third at 285).